Medication Can Be Forced

U.S. & Latin America - U.S. News to Note

July 28, 2001

WASHINGTON -- The man accused of fatally shooting two U.S. Capitol police officers at their posts three years ago can be forced to take antipsychotic medication in an attempt to make him competent to stand trial, a federal appellate panel ruled Friday. The ruling says the government's interest in identifying and convicting the person responsible for such a crime outweighs the right of Russell Eugene Weston Jr. to refuse medication.